Quick answer

SAMOS pricing typically blends a participation component with per-transaction fees, structured to recover the cost of operating the platform while encouraging efficient use of intraday liquidity. Exact fees are set by SARB and published in the SAMOS rule documents.

How SAMOS pricing is structured

SAMOS pricing typically combines a participation fee (paid by each settlement participant for membership and connectivity) with per-transaction fees that depend on volume and message type. SARB's stated approach is cost recovery rather than profit, in line with central-bank operating infrastructure norms.

What drives the per-transaction fee

Per-transaction fees may vary by: message type (RTGS individual instruction versus batch settlement); time of day (peak versus off-peak); and volume tiers (higher-volume participants pay marginally less per message). Specific schedules are detailed in SARB's SAMOS fee schedule.

How charges flow through to customers

SAMOS fees are wholesale — paid by participating banks to SARB — and do not appear as a separate line on a customer's bank statement. Banks recover these costs through customer fees, particularly for RTGS-style real-time interbank transfers that often carry a higher fee than EFT credits. Card and PayShap fees are governed by separate scheme rules.

Where to find the current schedule

The authoritative source for current SAMOS pricing is SARB's published schedule. Independent summaries — including this one — can become outdated quickly as the SARB reviews pricing periodically.

TL;DR

  • SAMOS charges combine a participation fee with per-transaction fees.
  • Cost recovery, not profit, is SARB's stated pricing principle.
  • Customers pay indirectly: banks recover SAMOS costs in retail RTGS fees.
  • Confirm current rates against SARB's published schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Do customers pay SAMOS fees directly?

No — fees are wholesale, paid by participants to SARB. Customer-facing charges (e.g., RTGS fees) recover the cost indirectly.

Are SAMOS fees the same for all participants?

Volume tiers and message-type differentials can produce different effective rates per participant.

Is SAMOS run for profit?

SARB's stated approach is cost recovery, consistent with how central banks operate critical settlement infrastructure.

Where is the official fee schedule?

Published by SARB's National Payment System Department.

See also from our Ecosystem silo: STRATE Settlement: Securities Settlement in SAMOS. For the foundations, return to the SAMOS homepage or browse the full Knowledge Hub.